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Tell HN: Dropbox now requires access to contacts for Google login

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Re: Tell HN: Dropbox now requires access to contacts for Google login

#201

Post by dividuum »

wlesieutre wrote: post #186
higerordermap wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does android have this API? The problem I see is, if they are introduced in later versions, people are anyway used to apps asking these permissions and developers don't bother to use these. Also, a question to security experts: In many apps say we want a UX where the user would immediately be able to see their recent pics and select from them (think recent photos bar in whatsapp), but app shouldn't be able to access…

iOS does this for photos as of iOS 14: https://www.macrumors.com/2020/06/24/ios-14-users-give-apps-...

I wish there was an easier way to add additional photos quickly. From what I understand the only way is search for the app in settings, open the "Photos" permission and click on "Edit Selected Photos". Is there an easier way I missed? I guess I can't expect a simple click from within the app itself while selecting photos, as it's not aware it's seeing a limited selection.

Re: Tell HN: Dropbox now requires access to contacts for Google login

#202

Post by atraac »

KingOfCoders wrote: post #53
Ensorceled wrote: post #18

I left dropbox when they changed the full page upsell to "dropbox business" so that I couldn't easily figure out how to skip it and get on with my work. I had a paid pro account at the time. I actually had a conversation with a product manager; I checked the yes you can contact me when I cancelled my account. They simply refused to admit that an upsell was a advertisement and that disrupting my workflow on my paid, p…

Same with the ads for Amazon videos on Amazon Prime. They are ads and I don't want ads. But they don't see it that way (don't get me started on the forced watching of texts on Blue Rays).

That and the terrible video quality is what makes me not prolong prime after some free time we got few months ago with some other product. It's like watching 480p Youtube on a 4k tv most of the time. Netflix or Youtube have zero issues like that...

Re: Tell HN: Dropbox now requires access to contacts for Google login

#203

Post by ballenf »

jjbinx007 wrote: post #89
KingOfCoders wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same with the ads for Amazon videos on Amazon Prime. They are ads and I don't want ads. But they don't see it that way (don't get me started on the forced watching of texts on Blue Rays).

Ads on Amazon Prime are infuriating. And I can't help think how annoying it must be for people with disabilities. My other bugbear are the auto playing videos on Netflix and the use of massive spoilers in episode thumbnails. As a single consumer in a vast ocean I don't think my opinions will ever be listened to. Right now it's worth putting up with this crap as the benefits outweigh the cost but if it gets any worse…

Ads on Prime on kids content is especially frustrating.

My biggest goal with kids is to help them with their focus and limit exposure to "infinity pools" of content. It's not that I have a problem with the content of the ads, it's that they train kids' brains to want to switch quickly between content the moment a show has a lull.

It creates that FOMO that they might not be watching the most exciting show right now because the ad always makes the other show look way better.

Youtube is of course the epitome of this issue, although disabling the mini-player on kids content helps a little.

Re: Tell HN: Dropbox now requires access to contacts for Google login

#204

Post by DanBC »

jjbinx007 wrote: post #89
KingOfCoders wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same with the ads for Amazon videos on Amazon Prime. They are ads and I don't want ads. But they don't see it that way (don't get me started on the forced watching of texts on Blue Rays).

Ads on Amazon Prime are infuriating. And I can't help think how annoying it must be for people with disabilities. My other bugbear are the auto playing videos on Netflix and the use of massive spoilers in episode thumbnails. As a single consumer in a vast ocean I don't think my opinions will ever be listened to. Right now it's worth putting up with this crap as the benefits outweigh the cost but if it gets any worse…

My current favourite sketch about popup ads: https://twitter.com/thepincomedy/status/1349299943576662017?...

Re: Tell HN: Dropbox now requires access to contacts for Google login

#205

Post by AnIdiotOnTheNet »

pornel wrote: post #4
godzillabrennus wrote: post #2

DropBox seems to have decided that the only way for them to grow is to turn their data sync platform into a collaborative platform. Makes a whole lot of sense to steal contacts from all your users. FYI - never use oauth to log into anything you care about.

Sadly, you can't have a product that does one thing and does it well when you have to show never-ending growth to investors :(

Even more sadly that same thing seems to be true of FOSS applications because people think an application you aren't constantly updating and adding features to is "abandoned".

Software isn't allowed to just be done anymore.

Re: Tell HN: Dropbox now requires access to contacts for Google login

#206

Post by Daneel_ »

StavrosK wrote: post #100
tmslnz wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Syncthing has been working very reliably for our agency, with multiple users reading/writing to shared projects, with a NAS elected as "master" (though ST doesn't care who's who). Frankly impressive for an OSS project. However setting up and managing Syncthing is far from self-explanatory for a non-technical audience. It's OK in our case as we can hand-hold and onboard people in-house, but not ideal. Syncthing's usab…

That's because Syncthing is a different beast. If you want something closer to Dropbox, use Nextcloud, which does basically everything Dropbox does (and more) and has the simple sharing UI you're talking about.

I’ve looked at Nextcloud, however it seems to be missing a key feature for me - the ability to store files server-side only. I want a google drive / Dropbox hybrid solution, where I can keep some directories synced and others permanently on the server.

Does anyone know a solution that allows me to self-host something like this?

Re: Tell HN: Dropbox now requires access to contacts for Google login

#207

Post by youbookface »

jo-m wrote: post #184

A year ago, I replaced Dropbox with Syncthing [1] for all my private use. It syncs directly between your devices without need for a central server (except for device discovery). I use it without an always-on instance (NAS, cloud server), so it only syncs when my Laptop and Phone are on at the same time. This is enough for me. It just works (TM). [1] https://syncthing.net/

> The Syncthing Foundation stands against racism! Read about what we're doing.

Ugh, is anyone tired of every website's insistent virtue signaling?

Re: Tell HN: Dropbox now requires access to contacts for Google login

#208

Post by mkr-hn »

bayindirh wrote: post #28
godzillabrennus wrote: post #2

DropBox seems to have decided that the only way for them to grow is to turn their data sync platform into a collaborative platform. Makes a whole lot of sense to steal contacts from all your users. FYI - never use oauth to log into anything you care about.

> FYI - never use oauth to log into anything you care about. Or, "Then create a password and revoke oauth permissions from the provider"

These days all browsers offer to generate and save a syncable password for you and fill in the email, so it's almost as easy to make a normal account as it is to use OAuth. It feels like OAuth/SSO is a tool for a different, less user-friendly era.

Re: Tell HN: Dropbox now requires access to contacts for Google login

#209

Post by asidiali »

KingOfCoders wrote: post #53
Ensorceled wrote: post #18

I left dropbox when they changed the full page upsell to "dropbox business" so that I couldn't easily figure out how to skip it and get on with my work. I had a paid pro account at the time. I actually had a conversation with a product manager; I checked the yes you can contact me when I cancelled my account. They simply refused to admit that an upsell was a advertisement and that disrupting my workflow on my paid, p…

Same with the ads for Amazon videos on Amazon Prime. They are ads and I don't want ads. But they don't see it that way (don't get me started on the forced watching of texts on Blue Rays).

The worst - YouTube TV

They show you ads for YouTube TV, literally while are you watching TV with your paid YouTube TV subscription.

How many ad dollars are just being flushed down the drain...

Re: Tell HN: Dropbox now requires access to contacts for Google login

#210

Post by ballenf »

KingOfCoders wrote: post #73
matsemann wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes wtf, I'm already paying and trying to watch a series I enjoy, stop pestering me. Just one of many dark patterns at Amazon, cancelling Prime is so difficult that Norwegan Consumer Council and 15 others yesterday started a legal fight with Amazon: https://www.forbrukerradet.no/siste-nytt/amazon-manipulates-... The video there is quite aggravating.

I've cancelled Prime, now they hit me with week long delivery times which after a day are reduced by half or less, just to get me back on Prime.

It's amazing to me how long deliveries take if you're not prime. Of course the actual delivery is just as fast, they just wait a few days to fill the order.

And the dark patterns on placing an order without re-upping Prime feels like the fake download buttons on download.com without an ad blocker.

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